Cougar Support Group - Chats On...

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Diesel. Just saying it doesn't have such a performance ring about it. I know they can do a lot with it, but for the economy is where I see it's marketplace. Just like VW is trying to do, Ford probably realizes there's just not much of a market yet for "alternative fuel" vehicles, oh and the particulate thingy.

Anyhow, gotta run. I'll update when I can - have a great holiday weekend otherwise!

I have a 99 Cougar, Ash gold, 3 month out of Warranty, about 36,500 miles. I have suddenly had a couple of nickle size spots on the hood where the paint has peeled away, and a couple of others starting. I want to do some research before I talk to the dealer, anyone else seen anything like this? Thanks

Sorry to hear of your paint problems, Jeff. None here, so I'm no help to you.

Hi all. I'm back after a 900 mile jaunt around my state and the neighboring one. Averaged 29.8 mpg (A/C on all the time) and 57 mph. Not the faintest peep of a problem with my Adelaide.

Also took advantage of Mom's garage while I was visiting. Brought all my car-care goodies with me and spent the morning of the 4th in a truly American fashion, washing and waxing my car. Was going to do a double coat of wax on the top surfaces, but by the time I got the first coat finished up, the temp was up to 100 degrees and I decided a second coat could be added another day.

thanks to everyone who posted a message and helped me out. today i purchased (as a co-signer anyway, my mom qualified for 0% financing) a 2002 grabber green v6 sport premium with leather and machined wheels. after a few test drives and many talks with salesmen and dealerships, i'm happy with the ford quality even though i've badmouthed american cars before :P I just wanted to thanks those who gave some input and decided to let you know that i learned stick and got OK at it, but absolutely hated it, so i when i test drove an automatic i really pushed it to see its power and it was pretty sufficient. i pick the cougar up tomorrow and can't wait to drive it as an owner on the 4 hour trip home.

Glad you decided on the Cougar! Also good that you got such an awesome interest rate. Sounds like a great deal, and I know it's a great car, so I wish you all the best with you ownership experience. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Hello again. I was just reading a recent article from Time magazine about getting bargains on new cars. The Cougar was one of the cars that was listed on the article because the model was being discontinued. According to the article you can get a new 2002 model for around $15K.

I wonder how that affects the resale value of my 2000 Cougar. Maybe I should trade in my older Cat for a new one.

I just spent an hour catching up on the last six months. It was great to hear the updates and, quite frankly, a little sad to hear the swan songs. I filled out my little mercury card with invectives about car marketing leadership and will also try the 800 number. Thanks Gustafc.

We still LOVE our cat (and the impreza wagon outback) and wouldn't trade either in for anything - as long as we get the following sorted out.

The warranty period on our 2000 cat (only 6100 miles-there's really no place to GO in Nebraska) will be coming to an end of November and I'm wondering if anyone else can enlighten us.We had her in for an oil change several months ago and noticed a few drops leaking afterward. We told the dealership with our next oil change(since they are the only ones who have touched the car) and they said it has been a problem with cougars and they may have to take the whole engine out to fix it. They put in a dye, rechecked it after a couple days and said we need to drive it more until they can tell. This is the first I've heard of this kind of problem. Anyone else?I've complained about the chirping and the hiccup when the A/C is on twice. They don't seem to be able to re-enact it but a new guy did give me a this-is-normal explanation which could possibly made sense. Has everyone who has experienced the chirp/hiccup had a manuel? If so, I can buy his explanation, if there are automatics out there with the problem I will take the mechanic for a ride myself.Lastly, we have experienced a loud metallic dragging noise every twentieth time we open the sunroof when it's hot. This time the dealership actually heard it and ordered a new assembly under warranty. I also haven't heard anyone complain about sunroof problems. (???!)

Oh, and our insurance company just raised our rate just on the cougar (not my 19 year old son's beater or the subaru) stating it had been rerated nationally. Is this another affect of Ford's decision or can we blame this one on burnsmr's two years of disasters?

I'm not the only one with disasters associated with Cougar ownership. I'll admit that my car was just plain poorly put together as an early model. So don't pass off your insurance woes on me. ;-) Especially when you don't drive your car enough to ever see or hit anyone/anything anyway. ;-p

Seriously, though, the car is being discontinued and will most likely cost more to repair in the future because parts will not be in as high demand/supply as they used to be. Your AC chirping is normal. Has happened on everyone's car at least once. Live with it.

Might want to buy some sort of extended warranty before you get too far gone on the factory warranty, if you're planning on keeping the car. What do the rest of ya think? Worth the $900 - $1200 for 3 years or so of additional protection? On a car that's being discontinued?

Hey!! I did get rid of the Cougar for a SUV for my wife and I ended up driving her '98 Accord. the plan was to drive the Accord for a couple of years then I would get something I really wanted. It didn't work out that way!!! One month after I got rid of the Cougar the Accords transmission started leaking. I took it to the dealer and they siad the trans was shot and it needed to be replaced. To the tune of (get this) $5,100. Needless to say we traded that car in faster than you can say "peice of crap". I ended up getting a '02 Jetta. I will keep this for 3 years and then get what I really want. So thats my car story.

Patte: I also had the chirping sound with the AC on. I had automatic Cougar. Though the chirping was the least of my worries. The worst thing about my AC was when it would stop working and couldn't be duplicated by the dealer. It is a good feeling that my Jetta's AC works flawlessly.

My '02 Subaru Forester S is fine (after 9000 miles), minus the dent I put in her the first month I had the keys. Been wary of trying Dent Wizard or Autodent Specialists (up in Gwinnett County) for fear that they would have to drill holes in passenger-side rear wheel well.

I can live with it, 'specially after having my Cougar in the shop at least 3X as often in the first 9000 miles I owned that car. ;-) Mine's been in only for the minor fuel system issue I discovered in the first week.

I do miss my 28mpg from the Cougar though. The Forester doesn't get nearly as good gas mileage with the boxer-4. Go figure.

'02 VW Jetta is a nice car, 'specially if you go the 1.8T or VR6. Although I'd never buy GM, I hear anything based off the Silverado platform is a winning ride.

I also thought I would never buy GM. But, you know how it goes, if the wife wants a Tahoe.....wife gets a Tahoe. So far we have been really impressed with it and we got a really good deal with all the rebates and such.

My Jetta gas mileage has averaged around 28-29mpg. But I only have 2250 miles on it.

I know my husband thinks I've gone crazy, but yesterday I traded in my 2000 Cougar for a 2002. I really HAD some good reasons (at least, as far as I was concerned!) My old 2000 was fast approaching the end of its manufacturer's warranty period (with 34,000 miles), and was also in need of a set of new tires (and probably a brake job, too), and I had some tough decisions to make regarding purchasing an extended warranty, as well as the other upkeep items previously mentioned. Add to that a desire to have the last model year of a car I fell in love with (at least, in this incarnation). Well, to try to keep a long story short, I went to my friendly dealer to see just what it would take to get a similarly equipped 2002. When all was said and done, I wound up getting a V6 Sport Premium MTX with the machined aluminum 16" wheels and the sound syster with the 6 CD changer for less than I paid 2 years ago for the 2000, and about $10.00 less per month in payments to the bank. The only dissapointment was that I had to sacrifice driving my laser red (sometimes referred to as "arrest me red" by my spouse) kitty for a shadow grey one. But, I have to admit that the color is growing on me.

I only have one concern with this 2002: When I shift through the gears, it feels "stiffer" than in my 2000, and I seem to hear more noise as I go through the gears. Is this just because the car is so new, and I've forgotten my early miles with my 2000, or is this something I should bring up with the dealer?

Finally got the cast off my leg Tuesday afternoon :-). 6 weeks without being able to drive will drive a person nuts. You don't realize how much freedom you take for granted until it's gone.

Begging rides to work, store, etc...

But, even after sitting all that time, kitty started right up, and off we went through a blinding rainstorm to dinner and a play. Didn't mind the weather too much, just too happy to be in motion again.

Now, if the foot sprain will just heal up, I'd be 100% again.

But, something is better than nothing.

Going to take a couple weeks vacation starting this wekend, so I'll be out of touch for a while.

Aussy -- how hard are you driving your Cougar? I had the 1999 Cougar V-6 with manual tranny and NEVER got less than 25mpg, even with crazy driving in scary-[non-permissible content removed] Atlanta traffic. I used unleaded regular fuel too -- no mid-grade or premium.